Display device

ABSTRACT

A collapsible display includes an adjustable stand, a first plurality of cross members having a first length and a second plurality of cross members having a second length. The display further includes a base, and at least one upright member substantially perpendicular to the base. Each of the first plurality of cross members and each of the second plurality of cross members have an opening therein sized to fit over the at least one upright member, each cross member rotatably offset from another cross member.

RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser.No. 60/817,621 filed Jun. 29, 2006, which application is incorporatedherein by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention is concerned with a display, and more particularly adisplay apparatus that can be assembled from a small package. The smallpackage can be easily stored when not in use, or easily transported.

BACKGROUND

Many times a business or other user may wish to display a variety ofitems. For example, people selling wares at temporary shows may want toplace a variety of items on display for possible sale. Still other morepermanent business locations may also want to display items for sale.Depending on what is displayed or the amount of room available for adisplay, sometimes a small display may be called for while at othertimes a larger display is required. Homeowners or other users may alsochoose to display items. For example, collector's may choose to displaya collection of items.

There are many different types of displays. Some displays includeshelving or other permanent structures. Other displays include largebackdrops and may be cumbersome to store or carry. Still other displaysmay include computer displays or require software to show one's wares ordisplay a collection of items. Many displays have fixed dimensions andare not adjustable. Still other displays are heavy and difficult toassemble. Still others take up relatively large amounts of space whennot in use.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention is pointed out with particularity in the appended claims.However, a more complete understanding of the present invention may bederived by referring to the detailed description when considered inconnection with the figures, wherein like reference numbers refer tosimilar items throughout the figures, and:

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a display device in a firstconfiguration, according to an example embodiment.

FIG. 2 is an assembled perspective view of a display device in a secondconfiguration, according to an example embodiment.

FIG. 3 is an assembled perspective view of a display device in a thirdconfiguration, according to an example embodiment.

FIG. 4 is an exploded view of a base of a display device that includes aexpanded base and a plurality of upright portions, according to anexample embodiment.

FIG. 5 is an exploded view of a base of a display device that includes atelescoping upright, according to an example embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a flow chart of a method of assembly for the display device,according to an example embodiment.

The description set out herein illustrates the various embodiments ofthe invention, and such description is not intended to be construed aslimiting in any manner.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a display device 100 in afirst configuration, according to an example embodiment. The displaydevice 100 includes a base 110 and plurality of cross members, such ascross member 120. The base 110 includes a first element 111 and a secondelement 112. The first element 111 includes a notch 113, and the secondelement 112 also include a notch 114. The notches 113 and 114 aredimensioned to engage one another. Also included in at least one of thefirst element 111 and the second element 112 is an attachment portion116. The attachment portion 116 is for receiving an upright 130 thatattaches to the base 110. The attachment portion 116 can be any type ofattachment means. In one embodiment, the attachment portion is anopening that includes an inside thread on the inner surface of theopening. An end 131 of the upright 130 includes a threaded portion thatengages the inside threads of the attachment portion 116. Of course,other attachment mechanisms can be used and are within the scope of theinvention. The cross members, such as cross member 120, are generallygrouped into groups that have the same length dimension. These groups ofcross members having the same length are also referred to as clusters,or clusters 121 of cross members. As shown in FIG. 1, cluster 121 has afirst dimension. The display device also includes a second cluster 141and a third cluster 151. The clusters 121, 141, 151 are positioned onthe upright 130. The clusters are separated from one another by aspacer, 160, 162. The spacer 160 is of a tubular shape and has an insideopening 161 that is larger than the upright 130. The space 162 issimilarly shaped. Each of the spacers 160, 162 also has an outsidedimension which is larger than an opening 122 in the cross member 120,or an opening 142 in the cross member 140, or the opening 152 in thecross member 150. As result, the spacer 162 spaces the third cluster 151of cross members from the cross members in the second cluster 141, andthe spacer 160 spaces the first cross member 120 from cross members,such as cross member 140, in the second cluster 141. Spacers may also beused, in other example embodiments, to separate cross members within acluster 121, 141, 151 from one another. The spacers do not have to havethe same length dimension, in some example embodiments.

The spacers 160, 162 are not required to be tubular in cross section.Other shapes will also work as spacers. Similarly, the cross sectionalshape of the cross members is not limited to a square or rectangularshape. Other shapes can also be used. The spacers 160, 162 and the crossmembers, such as 140, 120, and 150, can be made of one material, such aswood. In some embodiments, different materials having different colorsare used in forming the display device 100. The upright 130 can also bemade of any type of material, such as wood, or metal or the like. In oneexample embodiment, the display device 100 also comes with aninstruction set 170. The instruction set 170 and the parts of thedisplay 100 may also be termed a kit. The instruction set 170 providesinstructions regarding assembling, disassembling and storing the displaydevice 100. In some example embodiments, discussed in more detail below,the stand 110 and the upright 130 are adjustable so that displays ofvarious sizes can be formed. Separate instructions may be provided forproducing displays 100 of various sizes. In addition, some displays mayhave a cluster 151 with smaller length cross members 150 placed close tothe base. Other clusters 121, 141, having longer length cross members120, 140, may be placed more distal from the first element 111 and thesecond element 112 that form a part of the base 110. In addition, thefirst element 111 and the second element 112, in some embodiments, mayalso be adjustable to provide for a wider and more stable base. Theinstruction set 170 includes instructions regarding various combinationsof the upright 130 and the stand 110 needed to form a stable display 100of a selected size. It is contemplated that the instruction set wouldalso include directions regarding extending the base as well asextending the size of the upright 130.

FIG. 2 is an assembled perspective view of a display device 200 in asecond configuration, according to an example embodiment. The displaydevice 200 includes a base 210 which is formed of a first base member211 and a second base member 212. Attached to the base 210 is an upright230. A spacer 260 is placed onto the upright and then a first cluster221 of cross members is placed onto the upright. The display device 200is then further formed by alternating spacers and clusters until thedisplay is completed. The display 200 therefore includes the spacer 260and a spacer 262, a spacer 264, a spacer 266 and a spacer 268. Thevarious clusters of cross members include the cluster 221, a cluster231, a cluster 241, and a cluster 251. Spacer 262 is positioned betweencluster 221 and cluster 231. Spacer 264 is positioned between cluster231 and the cluster 241. The spacer 266 is placed between the cluster241 and the cluster 251. The spacer 268 forms a top portion of thedisplay 200. As shown in FIG. 2 the upright 230 extends beyond thespacer 268. In many embodiments of the invention, the upright 230 willnot extend beyond the spacer 268 for aesthetic purposes. However, theupright 230 extends above the spacer 268 in FIG. 2 for the sake ofillustration and clarity. The display 200 is a relatively small modeland can be placed on a desk top, ledge or other similar structure.Display items can be placed on the end of the cross members associatedwith the clusters 221, 231, 241, and 251. Items can also be displayedfrom the top of the display 200. For example, an item may be clipped tothe spacer 268 or attached to the end of the upright 230.

FIG. 3 is an assembled perspective view of a display device 300 in athird configuration, according to an example embodiment. The displaydevice 300 includes a base 310. The base 310 includes a first basemember 311 and a second base member 312. Each of the base members 311and 312 are notched so as to madeably engaged one another and to from abase for the display. The first base member 311 also includes a firstextension member 313 and a second extension member 314. Similarly, thesecond base member 312 also includes an extension member 316. It shouldbe noted that the second base member 312 also includes another extensionmember (not shown). When a display becomes larger it is necessary tohave a base that is also of a larger dimension to provide an appropriateamount of stability for a larger display, such as the display 300. Whencomparing the display 300 to the display 200 (shown in FIG. 2) it can beseen that there are many more clusters of cross members and that thelower clusters have links that are greater than the lower cluster 221shown in FIG. 2. The base 310 is extended when compared to the base 210to provide extra stability for the enlarged display 300. In addition,the upright 330 is also longer than the upright 230 shown in FIG. 2. Theextensions 313, 314 are added to the first base member 311 and theextensions 316 and the one not shown are also attached to the secondbase member 312 to provide for the larger base. The instruction set 170that could be included with all the various parts that form the display.The instruction set would be critical in indicating which of theclusters to start with in order to build or form and a display of aselected size.

FIG. 4 is an exploded view of a base 410 of a display device thatincludes an expanded base and a plurality of upright portions 431, 432that form the upright, according to an example embodiment. The base of410 includes a first element 411 and a second element 412. The firstelement 411 is extended using a first base extension portion 413 and asecond base extension portion 414. Similarly, the second base element412 is extended using a third extension element 415 and a fourthextension element 416. Although only two extensions are provided perbase element 411, 412 it is contemplated that additional extensionmembers could be added to produced yet a further or more enlarged base410 that could support a larger display structure. Thus, the baseelements of the base 410 are extendable and adjustable for various sizesof a display that is to be formed. Similarly, the upright 430 is alsoextendable and adjustable. The upright 430 includes a first uprightportion 431 and a second upright portion 432. The first upright portion431 includes a threaded end 433 and another end 435 that includes aninternal threaded portion. The threaded end 433 is received and can beattached to a threaded opening 418 in the base element 412. Thisproduces the base 410 having one of the upright members 431 attached tothe base element 412. The upright 430 can be then further extended byadding the second base element 432 which also includes a threaded end436 and an end 438 having an internal threaded portion. Additionalupright elements can be added to the upright elements to form anenlarged upright 430. It is also noted that the upright elements 431,432 can be of different lengths or elongated so that the display andmore specifically the base for the display can be more quickly formed.It should be noted that the base elements 411 and 412 can be extended inother different ways than by adding extension elements to the baseelements. There could be small rods that extend out from the baseelements or any other such structure to extend the base.

FIG. 5 is an exploded view of a base 510 of a display device thatincludes a telescoping upright 530. The telescoping upright includessections 531, 532 and 533. The upright 530 also has a threaded end 540which can be threaded into a corresponding internally threaded openingin a base member 511. The telescoping upright 530 is merely threadedinto the opening 518. Then the top portion 533 can be pulled up oradjusted in height to a desired height. Applying a force to the topmember 533 would remove the top member 533 and the second section 532and from the section 531. Although not shown in this particular figurethe base members 511 and 512 could also be extended to provide foradditional adjustability to the base 510. In addition, more or lesstelescoping members could be provided.

FIG. 6 is a flow chart of a method 600 of assembly for the displaydevice, according to an example embodiment. The method 600 forassembling a display includes assembling a stand for the display 610,placing a first cluster of cross members onto the stand 612, and placinga second cluster of cross members 614 onto the stand. The first clusterof cross members have a first length and the second cluster of crossmembers has a second length. The second length is different than thefirst length. The stand includes a first set of parts used to assemblethe stand having a first set of dimensions, and a second set of partsthat can be assembled with the first set of parts to assemble the standhaving a second set of dimensions. The first set of parts can be used toassemble a smaller sized display. The second set of parts can be used toassemble a larger sized display. In one embodiment, the first set ofparts is used for just the smaller sized display. In another embodiment,the first set of parts is used in addition to the second set of parts inmaking the larger sized display. Some example embodiments includeplacing a third cluster of cross members 616 onto the stand. Of course,the cross members of the third cluster having a third dimension largerthan the first dimension and the second dimension. Of course otherexample embodiments include placing many more clusters of cross membersonto the upright to form a larger tree. The instruction set 170 (seeFIG. 1)

This discussion shows that there are several alternative embodiments ofthe invention that are possible in addition to the preferred embodimentdescribed above. All such embodiments, and their equivalents, areconsidered to be within the scope of the invention as defined by thefollowing claims.

1. A collapsible display comprising: an adjustable stand including: abase; and at least one upright member substantially perpendicular to thebase; and a first plurality of cross members having a first length; anda second plurality of cross members having a second length, each of thefirst plurality of cross members and each of the second plurality ofcross members having an opening therein sized to fit over the at leastone upright member, each cross member rotatably offset from anothercross member.
 2. The collapsible display of claim 1 further comprisingat least one spacer fitting over the at least one upright, the at leastone spacer having a dimension larger than the opening in the crossmembers, the at least one spacer for providing a space between at leasttwo of the cross members.
 3. The collapsible display of claim 1 whereinthe upright has an adjustable length.
 4. The collapsible display ofclaim 1 where the upright includes: a first portion that attaches to thebase; and a second portion attaches to the first portion of the upright.5. The collapsible display of claim 1 wherein at least one cross memberincludes an attachment members near an end of the at least one crossmember.
 6. The collapsible display of claim 1 wherein at least one crossmember includes an attachment members associated with the at least onecross member.
 7. The collapsible display of claim 1 in which the crossmembers are rectangular in cross section.
 8. The collapsible display ofclaim 1 in which the spacers are tubular.
 9. The collapsible Christmastree of claim 1 in which the cross members are wood and the spacers arewood.
 10. An adjustable display comprising: an adjustable base; anadjustable upright that attaches to the base; a first set of crossmembers having a first length attached to the adjustable upright, thefirst cross members spaced from one another; and a second set of crossmembers having a second length attached to the adjustable upright, thesecond cross members spaced from one another and spaced from the firstset of cross members, the second length different from the first length.11. The adjustable display of claim 10 wherein the adjustable uprightincludes a telescoping structure.
 12. The adjustable display of claim 10wherein the adjustable upright further comprises: a first uprightportion; and a second upright portion, the first upright portionattachable to the base, and the second upright portion attachable to thefirst upright portion.
 13. The adjustable display of claim 10 whereinthe adjustable base further comprises: a first base portion; and asecond base portion, the first base portion removably attached to thesecond base portion to form the adjustable base.
 14. The adjustabledisplay of claim 13 wherein the adjustable base further comprises: afirst base extension portion; and a second base extension portion, thefirst base extension portion removably attached to the first baseportion and the second base extension portion removably attached to thesecond base portion.
 15. The adjustable display of claim 13 wherein theadjustable base wherein the a first base portion is substantiallyperpendicular to the second base portion.
 16. The adjustable display ofclaim 10 further wherein the adjustable upright further comprises: afirst upright portion; and a second upright portion, the first uprightportion attachable to the base, and the second upright portionattachable to the first upright portion.
 17. The adjustable display ofclaim 10 further comprising a set of instructions for assembling theadjustable display.
 18. A method for assembling a display, comprising:assembling a stand for the display; placing a first cluster of crossmembers onto the stand; and placing a second cluster of cross membersonto the stand, wherein the first cluster of cross members have a firstlength and the second cluster of cross members has a second length, thesecond length different than the first length.
 19. The method of claim18 wherein the stand includes: a first set of parts used to assemble thestand having a first set of dimensions; and a second set of parts thatcan be assembled with the first set of parts to assemble the standhaving a second set of dimensions.
 20. The method of claim 19 furthercomprising placing a third cluster of cross members onto the stand, thecross members of the third cluster having a third dimension larger thanthe first dimension and the second dimension.